"Of what like was such a person?"
"A big man, swarthy and dark, with sullen eyes, clad in garments of
tanned hides and wearing a red cap and a knife in his belt. He bore on
his left temple a pure white lock amid his black hair."
"Bois DesCaut!" said Edmonton Ridgar; "he has been these two days gone
in his canoe."
"A traitorous trapper, M'sieu," said the factor, "one who has umbrage
at me for a rebuke administered some time back and hopes by this sorry
joke to win revenge. But what is done cannot be helped. We have met as
friends,--the unfortunate fact that we find ourselves rivals,--that
almost speaks the word 'foes,' I must inform you, M'sieu, since the
strife between our companies has become so sharp,--should not cause us
to forget the bread we have broken between us personally. I still offer
you a night's rest."
But De Courtenay had drawn himself to his slender height, his hand at
his hip, where, in other times, had dangled a sword.
"Nay, M'sieu," he said quickly, "a blunder found and unremedied becomes
two. If I ay gather my men we will sleep outside an unfriendly fort,--
and in the name of De Courtenay allow me to repay the cost of their
entertainment.
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